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SOUTH AFRICA, May 30, 2004: Govindsamy “GM” Moodley vowed never again to play the veena after the death of his wife and biggest fan, Dolly, two years ago. But family and friends convinced the Isipingo Beach musician to take up the south Indian stringed instrument again as a tribute to her. Now, for the first time since he began playing 30 years ago, 74-year-old Moodley has launched a collection of his music, including a compilation of his late wife’s favorite veena melodies. It took him two days to complete the recording of about 40 pieces in Chennai during a six-week stay in India. “I have given hundreds of performances in the past 30 years, and Dolly never missed one. She was always by my side whenever I played,” he said this week. “When she passed on after a short illness two years ago, I felt desolate. We had been married for 47 years and had a beautiful life together. It was too painful for me to play the veena. “But my friends and family convinced me to play again, and that’s when I decided to do a recording of my music for posterity, for my children and grandchildren. “Dolly often told me if anything happened to me, she did not have a single piece of my music. This CD collection is a tribute to my beloved wife and guiding star.”



Moodley, a retired consulting engineer, is believed to be the only active veena player in South Africa. He received his first veena in 1968 when he asked a friend who was visiting India to buy it for him, instead of silk shirts. The modern version of the veena has evolved from its ancient forerunner, which dates back some 5,000 years. The instrument is associated with Saraswathi, the Hindu Goddess of learning and mythology. Moodley said he had to learn from scratch to play the instrument. “I was so frustrated that one day I almost smashed it into pieces.” But he persevered “after receiving a divine call.” The self-taught musician plays by ear. “I had no teacher to coach or advise me on the intricacies of the veena. I relied entirely on God and my instincts to learn to play this difficult, yet beautiful instrument.” Aside from Karnatic music, Moodley also plays north Indian music and even the South African national anthem on the instrument. Moodley’s CDs are available from the Umgeni Road Temple in Durban.

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